MARTIN, Tenn.– The University of Tennessee at Martin soccer team produced a hard-fought battle against Southern Illinois and came away with a 0-0 draw in the home opener today.
In extremely windy conditions, the Skyhawk offense fired 17 shots as a team this afternoon while UT Martin’s defense limited the visiting Salukis to only four shot attempts in the final 45 minutes.
Izzy Patterson led the Skyhawks in shots with five (one on goal) while Unni Wolf (three shots, two on goal), Allie Buchmann (two shots on goal) and Abbie McHenry (one shot on goal) each sent shots on goal. The group of Rachel Valenzuela, Nyeemah Prescod-Beckles, Brooke Kala, Peyton Cook, Makayla Robinson and Alberte Amby also each had a shot attempt during today’s contest.
In goal, Mac Titus produced a match-high nine saves in a gutsy full 90-minute performance. Anna Østergaard Ibsen, Shayla Addington, Parker Gelinas, Patterson and Buchmann went the full distance with 90 minutes played for UT Martin (0-1-1).
It was a shot-heavy first half with both teams combining for 22 attempts at the break. Titus snared six saves in the first half alone and denied three more Southern Illinois scoring opportunities in the final 45 minutes. The trio of Wolf, Buchmann and McHenry each nearly broke the scoreless tie with shots on goal in the opening half but the Salukis recorded saves.
The Skyhawks would see Buchmann (48:01) and Wolf (48:05) put together back-to-back quality chances early in the second half but they were ultimately turned away by Southern Illinois. Patterson accounted for UT Martin’s final shot on goal of the match as she broke through for a look in the 78th minute but her shot was saved. The Skyhawk defense held the Salukis without a shot attempt over the final 12:36.
“Our team defending was up to the task today,” UT Martin head coach Mike Varga said. “The first half was a bit more difficult for us with the wind in our face, but we did a good job of keeping the score line level going into the half. The second half was about not getting too stretched and putting our chances away. I felt like we created opportunities that were good enough for us to score from but we didn’t show enough composure in front of the goal. We have a talented group of players so I have no doubt that the goals will come. We’ll take the shutout and now focus on next Sunday with our match at Austin Peay.”
UT Martin will travel to take on the in-state rival Governors on Sunday, Aug 25 at 4 p.m.
